Sunday, August 15, 2010

Inquirer on Hating Kapatid: "To have to endure 'product placements' is too onerous an extra burden!"

We were tickled pink, fuchsia and lavender to have read this review from the Inquirer, so for those who actually believe that Edward, Bella and Jacob should be chugging down a bottle of Coca Cola while fighting for each one's affections; or the next Spiderman should be blatantly endorsing Skyflakes while swinging from webslings; that Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li and Jason Statham should shamelessly pawn their Rolexes at a Cebuana Lhuillier shop while exterminating the baddies from Vilena; and Julia Roberts should be shoving her pantypads down our cinematic throats while watching "Eat Pray Love": go get a brain!

Only in the Philippines is this brazenly shameless practice deemed a non-issue by some misguided souls!

Here is PDI's article which came out Saturday, August 15, 2010:

Distractions detract from Judy Ann-Sarah starrer

by PDI Editor Nestor U. Torre

"THE STELLAR pairing of Judy Ann Santos and Sarah Geronimo in Wenn Deramas’ family comedy, “Hating Kapatid,” has aroused special interest, because it could have seen the “passing of the torch” from one movie queen (Judy Ann) to another (Sarah).

Alas, it didn’t happen. The promising production turned out to be hobbled by a number of problems and limitations that ended up making it a failed cinematic enterprise.

That was a real pity, because the movie’s theme, sibling relationships, is of particular interest to Filipino viewers, who often grow up in homes where the oldest child assumes “third parent” responsibilities in helping to rear and even financially support his or her younger siblings.

Responsibilities

True enough, the film’s plot had older sister, Judy Ann, taking care of Sarah when their parents opted to work abroad to make money for their family. The girls’ grandmother (Gina Pareño) watched over them, but Judy Ann assumed most of the “maternal” responsibilities in taking care of her little sibling.

So far, so acceptable. But, all too soon, the movie’s progress was muddled by the production’s distractingly frenetic attempts to generate extra “comedy” by ramping up its slapstick and kenkoy elements.

Otherwise a proficient and focused performer, Judy Ann was made to rattle off her lines in a giddy way, like a younger clone of Nida Blanca or Maricel Soriano.

Laughter

Sarah was less of a caution in this regard, but she also had to contend with a number of slapstick moments and scenes that tweaked and distended her performance in an unnaturally hyper way, ostensibly to elicit extra loud whoops of laughter.

Trouble was, (Sarah's) attempts were so self-consciously broad and heavy that viewers’ real desire to laugh was dampened instead of encouraged.

An even bigger turn-off was the movie’s long list of “product placements” to generate extra income from advertisers. All sorts of products were shown being used by the stars on-camera, thus distracting viewers in a major way from the storytelling at hand.

These days, viewers already have to pay a lot for a movie ticket, so to have to endure “product placements” on top of that to add to a production’s income, in cash or kind, is too onerous an extra burden for moviegoers to bear!

What about the “passing of the torch” factor? It too was derailed, because neither Judy Ann nor Sarah survived the production’s limitations well enough to make such a symbolic act or gesture possible—or plausible.

We know that Judy Ann has come up with a number of worthy portrayals in the course of her long career, so she has nothing to prove. The big test was for Sarah to strut her thespic stuff—and she simply failed to deliver.

Sarah is a good singer and “obedient” performer who dutifully does what she’s told—and that’s her problem. Real star performers do more than comply with the director’s instructions, they make their performances their own by imbuing them with personality, sensitivity, charisma and insight.

These are what Sarah fails to provide, and what she should focus on in acquiring, if she wants to become an affecting performer and genuine screen luminary.

All else is dutifully going through the motions—and you don’t get awards for that."

P.S. That it is "Breaking Box Office Records Nationwide" is nothing but a spurious drivel. On it's 2nd Friday screening in an SM Davao Cinema - on a Friday afternoon, there were just 3 people watching in the whole cinema! Break which record? These SHAMELESS PUBLICITY MACHINERY! Makes your skin crawl...

PLAGIARISTS, BEWARE!

Having been a victim of repeated plagiarism, the next time I find a site infringing on my intellectual property, I will report you without warning and employ all effort to take you down and prosecute you.

Do NOT start a blog site if you're just going to prey on the work of others. It really isn't that hard to write your own material, you know. Grade school kids can do it.

STOP BEING PARASITES!

For the Nameless Nobodies!

I will not entertain anonymous messages regardless of how brilliant they are because they don't have "owners" who can vouch for them. If you haven't got a name, I haven't got the time! Cheers!